Jackson School (JSIS) Seniors will have the opportunity to complete their Task Force in Rome, with two related courses taught by JSIS faculty https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/lorenz/50137/ The program page provides more detail.

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Program Description

This will be the second year of a program first held in winter quarter 2017 – which was the first quarter-long Task Force abroad and was devoted to preparing a presidential briefing book related to US Foreign Policy in Europe.

The Task Force has been part of the International Studies major at the Jackson School since 1983. The original format was modeled on the Presidential Commissions common in policymaking in the United States. Graduating seniors work on important international issues through rigorous coursework in a wide variety of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary settings. This gives an opportunity to provide leaders with substantive policy recommendations based on rigorous research and evaluation.

Before departure from the US, students will be assigned to teams that will begin assess the current situation in Europe. In the fall of 2017 we will meet in Seattle to identify important issues and develop the scope and focus of the Task Force Report. In Rome students will meet with local officials the State Department, International Organizations and NGO's. This will provide students an unparalleled opportunity to understand the current challenges facing Europe and brief a high level official on the results of their research. br />
In addition to Task Force we plan to offer the same two five credit courses in 2018 that were offered in the 2017 program, see the course description below.

Location

Rome, Italy

Sites

The UW Rome Center will be the center of classroom activity, with visits to the NATO Defense College and local embassies as the schedule permits. p>

Housing

The UW Rome center will manage the placement of students in apartments.

Academics

Pre-Requisites/Language Requirements

The program is designed for JSIS students with an interest in international security and international relations, focusing on Western Europe. As with the 2017 program, only Jackson School Seniors eligible for Task Force will be admitted. br />
There are prerequisites for the program, see the description above. Selection within the Jackson School will be based on (1) major, (2) class standing, (3) GPA, (4) letters of recommendation, (5) reasons for wanting to participate in this particular program, (6) ability to adapt to new situations, (7) willingness to work with others, and (8) interview.

There are no special physical requirements. Those who can walk around the city will benefit most from the program.

Since Czech is a difficult and marginal language, no prior knowledge of Czech is required or expected.

Credits

15 Credits

Courses

The course will begin with an historical review including the legacy of World War II, the Marshall Plan and the development of NATO since its founding in 1949. The enlargement of NATO has been viewed as a threat by Russia, and tension on that subject continues to rise. Europe is now heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies, vulnerable to economic threats, and struggling to develop a common security policy. The recent events in Libya and The Crimea present new challenges to European Security that will be covered in depth in the course.

Learning Goals:
To help build an in-depth and historically informed understanding of the security challenges facing Europe in a time of new global forces and trends. Methodology: Classroom discussion and the submission of short Key Issue Papers (KIPs) will be used, there will be no final exam.

JSIS A 350 (5 credits) – U.S.-Europe Relations: Cooperation and Competition in a Globalizing World

The European Union, in its current form, is the result of a long political, economic, and diplomatic process that began at the end of World War II. From the Marshall Plan onward, the United States has played an important role, as proponent, partner, and competitor. In this course we will examine key developments in the transition from the six-member European Coal and Steel Community of the 1950s to the 28-member European Union of today, as well as the evolution of US-European political and economic relations over that period. This historical context will inform our examination of the political and economic challenges that EU countries face today, and will provide background on current issues in U.S.-EU relations, including ongoing efforts to negotiate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Classroom discussion will form an important part of our work, supplemented by a range of policy papers focused on specific issues.

JSIS 495 Task Force (5 credits)

JSIS Task Forces are tasked with researching and investigating a real-world challenge, producing a policy report and practical policy recommendations to decision-makers. Task Force is a team project and involves tight deadlines and time pressures. The Task Force's policy recommendations will be evaluated in Rome by a visiting outside expert – typically a serving or retired high-ranking U.S. diplomat or policymaker. Task Force students will prepare and present a 2-hour oral briefing based on their policy report for their expert evaluator. Students will research and write their Task Force report using resources and sources available to them in Rome – where there are many people, organizations and offices with activities and expertise in economic and security issues – for example Italian officials, representatives of the U.S government and NATO as well as International Organizations and NGOs. This will provide an unparalleled opportunity to understand the current challenges facing Europe and brief a high U.S. level official on the results of their research and their policy recommendations.

Additional Details: Winter quarter in Rome is an excellent place and time for study abroad, the summer crowds are gone and the Mediterranean climate is mild. The UW Rome Center is walking distance from some of Rome's best loved historic sites, see http://www.washington.edu/rome/

This JSIS program will focus on Rome, with field trips in the city and surrounding areas. Students will be in their regular classes (JSIS A 416 and JSIS A 350) as well as conducting research, writing, and editing in their Task Force – which requires students to be flexible and committed to the team effort and professional-level work that Task Force represents. During this program (from the first to the last day of Winter quarter) students will not be permitted to travel outside Italy. Students are encouraged to make plans for visits to other places in Europe before January 2 and/or after March 9, 2018.

Average Airplane Ticket Price

Payment Schedule

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Payment Type

Payment Amount

Payment Due Date

Non-Refundable Study Abroad Fee

$350

January 19, 2018

Program Fee Balance

$7,650

January 19, 2018

TOTAL FEES CHARGED

$8,000

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Scholarships

There are a variety of scholarships available to help fund your study abroad experience. Visit the Global Opportunities page for more information and application deadlines.

Orientation

To be eligible to study abroad, all program participants must attend an in-person pre-departure orientation facilitated by the Study Abroad office as well as your program-specific orientations, offered by your program director.

You must register for orientation through your online study abroad account in order to attend scheduled orientations. You can visit the Orientation section of our website to view the current orientation schedule.

Orientation must be completed prior to the enrollment deadline for the quarter that you are studying abroad.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Most forms of financial aid can be applied to study abroad. You can verify that your financial aid award will apply to your program costs by contacting the Financial Aid Office. Financial aid or scholarships awarded as tuition waivers or tuition exemptions might not apply so you will need to verify that these funds are eligible for use with study abroad by contacting the funding office.

Financial aid and most scholarships are disbursed according to the UW academic calendar (at the beginning of the quarter). If your program starts before the start of the UW quarter, your financial aid will not be available to you prior to your departure. If your program starts after the first day of the quarter, your financial aid will be disbursed at the start of the program. In either of these cases, you will have to finance any upfront costs such as airfare, health insurance and the start of your time abroad on your own. Please take this into consideration when you are making plans.

Revision Request

In some instances you may qualify for an increase in your financial aid award (typically in loan funds). Check with the Financial Aid Office about your options. To request a revision in your aid, you will need to submit the following paperwork to the Financial Aid Office:

Budget of student expenses for your program: The UW Study Abroad Office will upload this budget to your study abroad account after a signed contract has been submitted to the UW Study Abroad Office. You can request an unofficial copy of this budget by emailing studyabroad@uw.edu.

Visit the Finances section of our website to learn more about disbursement, revising your aid package, short-term loans and scholarships.

Application Process

The application includes a Personal Statement, three short answer questions, two recommendations from a professor or TA, and electronic signature documents related to UW policies and expectations for study abroad. Following the on-line application process students may be contacted by the Program Director for an in-person interview. Once an admission decision has been made regarding your application, you will be notified by the study abroad system via email.

Visas

UW Study Abroad is not responsible for obtaining visas for study abroad program participants. The cost and requirements for obtaining visas vary. It is your responsibility to determine visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad including countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. You can do so by calling the consular offices of those countries or checking the following website: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html.

Note: If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements. You can check the following website to find contact information for the consulate of the country you will be visiting: http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/index.htm

For non-U.S. citizens, the procedures that you will need to follow may be different than those for U.S. citizens. It is important to initiate this process as soon as possible in order to assemble documents and allow time for lengthy procedures.

Disability Accommodations

The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, and education for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation for this program, contact Disability Resources for Students at least 8 weeks in advance of your departure date. Contact info at disability.uw.edu.

Withdrawals

$350 of the total program fee and the $350 UW Study Abroad Fee are non-refundable and non-revocable once a contract has been submitted, even if you withdraw from the program. Students withdrawing from a program are responsible for paying a percentage of the program fee depending on the date of withdrawal. More details about the withdrawal policy are included in your payment contract. No part of the program fee is refundable once the program has begun. The date of withdrawal is considered the date (business day) a withdrawal form is received by the UW Study Abroad Office. Notice of withdrawal from the program must be made in writing by completing the following steps:

1. Provide notice in writing to the Program Director that you will no longer be participating in the program for which you have signed a contract and accepted a slot.

2. Submit a signed withdrawal form to the UW Study Abroad Office, 459 Schmitz Hall.